HealthBaylorJ u l y 2 0 1 1

Second Chance

After a stroke six years ago, DANE TAYLOR is living each

day to its fullest with help from her therapy dog, BEBE

page 6

Real PATiENTs. Real sTORiEs.

Find a PhysicianBaylor can help with your search for a doctor or a specialist page 2

FRee youR liFe oF acid ReFluxGet long-lasting relief for your GERD symptoms page 3

Waxahachie edition

Visit Baylorhealth.com/ Waxahachie for informative videos, health briefs, online event registration and more.

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Get Help Finding a PhysicianWhether you’re new in town or you’re looking for a specialist, finding a doctor

isn’t always an easy task. But Baylor can help

You can flip through the phone book or stare at your insur-ance provider directory until your eyes cross, but will you be able to find the right doctor to best meet your expec-

tations quickly and easily? Baylor can help you expedite the process through its Physician Referral Service.

Narrowing the FieldAt Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie alone, more than 250 physicians representing 32 specialties make up the hospital’s medical staff, providing you with a wide selec-tion of physicians to choose from. So no matter where you live or work, Baylor Waxahachie can help you find the right

Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie 1405 W. Jefferson, Waxahachie, TX 75165 President: Jay FoxMarketing Director: Dana WalkerDirector of Development, Baylor Health Care System Foundation: Ellen DearmanBaylor Medical Center at Waxahachie Board of Trustees: Linda Alvarez, John Chiles, Jack Curlin, James D’etienne, M.D., Bobby Dyess, Chair, Edwin Farrar, Jay Fox, Todd Fuller, Nancy Hightower, Mackey Morgan, DDS, Cindy Murray, Winnie O’Donnell, Jim Pitts, Paul Stevens, Pam UnderwoodPatient Information and Volunteer Opportunities: 972-923-7000 or 972-935-9095

Giving Opportunities/Baylor Health Care Foundation: 214-820-3136

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.

Visit BaylorHealth.com or call 1-800-4BAYLOR for information about Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more.

BaylorHealth is published six times a year for friends and supporters of Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie.

BaylorHealth is published by McMurry. © 2011 Baylor Health Care System.

The material in BaylorHealth is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie or Baylor Health Care System.

Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients.

If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Marketing Department, Dallas, TX 75201, or e-mail the information to robinv@baylorhealth.edu.

ASk ABOuT IT TODAY

Let Baylor Help You Find Your New DoctorIf you need help finding a primary care physician (also known as an internal medicine physician, family practitioner or pediatrician), call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit FindDrRight.com. Don’t wait until you’re ill or injured. Find a medical home and select a primary care doctor so you have quick access to care when you need it.

doctor, based on specialty, gender or even language spo-ken. Simply call 1-800-4BAYLOR (1-800-422-9567) or visit FindDrRight.com anytime, day or night.

Focusing on the DetailsIt’s not “just” a physician referral service, says Dana Walker, director of marketing at Baylor Waxahachie. “We can educate the consumer through a variety of details that we have avail-able on each physician in our service,” she says. “We offer the physician’s age, specialty, subspecialty, education, area of interest within their specialty, whether or not the physician is board-certified, and how long he or she has been practicing,”

she adds. “From this information, most callers are able to make a decision on which doctor they want to choose.”

Although the information provided to each caller is beneficial, there are a couple of limita-tions. Many physicians provide a list of insurances that they accept. But because insurance contracts change frequently, it’s important to verify that the physician you select accepts your insurance when you speak with his or her office. Also, the referral service cannot offer a personal opinion on which doctor to select. l  By Stephanie Thurrott

2 BaylorHealth July 2011 l For a physician referral, visit FindDrRight.com

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If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a new, minimally invasive surgical procedure may

help you get rid of the pain—and the pills—permanently.

Many people control their heartburn and other GERD symptoms with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter or prescrip-tion medications such as Tagamet®, Pepcid® and Zantac®. But some people tire of taking pills frequently. And oth-ers don’t get the control they need with medication or are concerned about side effects. Until now, the only other solu-tion was major surgery.

A new, minimally invasive procedure called transoral incisionless fundopli-cation (TIF) couples the long-lasting benefits of surgery with shorter, easier recovery time compared with other methods. TIF uses a special tool called an EsophyX® to build a barrier that keeps acid out of the esophagus.

During the procedure, doctors thread the tool through the patient’s mouth, down the esophagus and into the

Relieve Your Acid RefluxA new treatment can help you ditch the pills for good

Know the SignSWatch for these signs of acid reflux:l A burning feeling in the chest/

heartburnl Acid backing up into the throat

or esophagusl Trouble swallowingl Sore throatl Hoarsenessl A feeling of a lump in the throatSource: American Gastroenterological Association

get Rid of geRd

find Someone who Can helpFor a referral to a gastroenterologist or a general surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Waxahachie, call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit finddrRight.com.

stomach. The tool uses tissue from part of the stomach to build a valve between the stomach and the esophagus, without an incision.

“The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and most people go home the next day and back to work within a few days,” says Watson Roye, M.D., a general surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie. Studies have found that almost 80 percent of people who undergo the procedure are still free of acid- controlling medications two years later.

Once people recover from the surgery, they can typically indulge in foods that might have triggered symptoms before, such as citrus, tomato sauce, carbon-ated drinks and coffee. They are also

generally able to enjoy a late-night meal without experiencing heartburn at bed-time. l  By Stephanie Thurrott

Be a healthier you! Visit BaylorHealth.com/Waxahachie l July 2011 BaylorHealth 3

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Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Five linked symptoms make up the condition called meta-bolic syndrome. If you’re one of the 47 million Americans with this condition, you might not know you have it—but

you might recognize some of its risk factors. 1 Belly fat. Women with a waist circumference of 35 inches

or more and men with a 40-plus-inch waist are at risk. 2 High triglyceride levels. Levels above 150 mg/dl are

troublesome. 3 Low HDL levels. Men want to see a level of at least

40 mg/dl. For women the target is 50 mg/dl. 4 High blood pressure. Levels higher than 130/85 are cause

for concern. 5 High glucose levels. A fasting glucose level of 100 mg/dl

or higher is considered elevated.If you have at least three of these conditions, you probably

have metabolic syndrome, which can make you twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times as likely to become dia-betic. (If you manage your cholesterol or blood pressure with medication, those conditions still count.)

It’s important to control the condition, so if you think you are at risk, see your doctor. “Most concerning is the high risk for coronary artery disease. The risk is significant,” says Andre Graham, M.D., a bariatric surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie.

Treat the Symptoms, Treat the SyndromeAs with many health conditions, diet and exercise are key. And you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to see positive changes. Your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels will improve if you lose 10 percent of your body weight.

To turn your diet in the right direction, start with three vegetables and two fruits daily, and gradually work up to eight to 10 servings a day. Choose plant- and fish-based fats over saturated and trans fats, and watch your sodium intake if your blood pressure is high.

Exercise is key, because it influences many of the other risk factors—it lowers body weight and decreases insulin resis-tance, diabetes risk and blood pressure. Experts say to aim for 30 minutes of exercise at least four days a week.

And if you’re not at risk for metabolic syndrome, mak-ing lifestyle changes today will help ensure it stays that way. l  By Stephanie Thurrott

LoSe WeigHt

Lower Your RiskStruggling to lose weight? Baylor Waxahachie’s weight man-agement program can help. Call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/WaxahachieWeight for information.

This cluster of conditions can mean big trouble. Here’s what you need to know

4 BaylorHealth July 2011 l To make a donation, visit BaylorHealth.com/WaystoGive

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Read more about research at Baylor at BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine l July 2011 BaylorHealth 5Illustration by Gilbert Ford

Diabetes Patients Make Gains on Weight LossBaylor studies drug’s potential for overweight people with type 2 diabetes

BE PART OF THE STUDY

Want to Be Active?

Participants will be enrolled in the study as late as the end of July. For information, call 214-818-7155.

The drug being tested mimics a peptide hormone that stimulates release of insulin

after a meal, and also can help control appetite by sending the brain a message that one has just eaten and should not have to eat again.

People who have type 2 diabetes often find themselves caught in a vicious circle of weight gain. Being overweight or obese can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, and

some medications used to treat the condition can cause more weight gain. In addition, it’s often harder for people with type 2 diabetes to lose weight.

Losing weight, and keeping it off, can help people with type 2 diabetes better manage their condition. It can also reduce their risk of other health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

That’s why Baylor is participating in a multicenter study to see if a diabetes medication that’s already on the market might help people lose weight while controlling their diabetes. The drug has been shown to help people with diabetes manage their blood

glucose levels, and other studies have examined how it can help people without diabetes lose weight.

“This new study is going to look at patients with type 2 diabetes and focus on using slightly higher doses than we usually do, to see if we can have a real effect on their weight as well as their blood glucose,” says Priscilla Hollander, M.D., Ph.D., an endocrinologist on the medical

staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Baylor Endocrine Center.

The drug being tested mimics a peptide hormone that stimulates release of insulin after a meal, which is important in controlling glucose. It also can help control appetite by sending the brain a message that one has just eaten and should not have to eat again. It can also slow the emptying of the stomach and make people feel fuller longer. Patients with type 2 diabetes make less of this hormone than individuals who do not have diabetes.

During the 56-week study, participant groups will be given varying doses of the drug and one group will receive a placebo.

“We’re hoping this medication might have a unique advantage in helping people with diabetes lose weight,” Dr. Hollander says. “And, hopefully, losing the weight will have a favorable effect on their diabetes and their overall health.” l  By Amy Lynn Smith

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6 BaylorHealth July 2011 � BaylorHealth.com Portrait by John Derryberry

Stroke Knows No Age

Six years ago Dane Taylor of Dallas was working as a makeup artist on a photo shoot in Cancun, Mexico, when a debilitating headache struck.

“I had a history of migraines, and this headache went into a second day. By noon I couldn’t keep working—I had to go back to my room,” she says.

She woke, and noticed trouble moving her right arm and leg, but thought she had slept on them wrong and went back to sleep. The next morning, she tried to return to work but was exhausted. She spoke to her co-workers, but they couldn’t understand her jumbled words. They took her to a local hospital and the next day she traveled to Baylor University Medical Center

at Dallas, where MRIs determined the then-50-year-old had experienced a stroke. While she didn’t have a family history or other known risk factors,

A ‘brain attack’ can strike anyone. Here’s how to strike back

WATCH THE VIDEO

In Dane’s WordsTo watch Dane’s video and get more healthy ideas and stroke-prevention tips, download our digital magazine at BaylorHealth.com/Exclusive.

Recovering from her stroke was made a bit easier for Dane Taylor with help from her therapy dog, Bebe.

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the MRI uncovered an unusual vein confi guration in her brain.

Stroke aff ects everyone diff erently. For Taylor, the trouble with her right limbs passed quickly. “I could walk, and my mobility was fi ne, but I couldn’t speak,” she says. During rehabilitation sessions three or four times a week, she regained her speech, although she still notices some aftereff ects of the stroke, particularly when she is tired. “My memory isn’t what it used to be, and I’m not great at math,” she says. But thanks to her hard work in rehab, she has returned to work and to the activities she enjoys.

Diff erent Causes, Same Symptoms“Stroke can occur at any age,” points out Dion Graybeal, M.D., medical director of the stroke program at Baylor Dallas. However, the causes of stroke in younger people are often diff erent from those in seniors.

Asher Imam, D.O., medical director of the stroke program at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, says, “In people over 55, most of the time the primary cause is disease of the artery.” Younger people are more likely to have a cardiac abnormality or coagulation disorder, in which the blood does not clot properly, that triggers a stroke. Other causes include drug use, aneurysm rupture or a traumatic arterial injury.

But younger people with risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, are at risk of stroke triggered by arterial disease, just like their older counterparts.

Jai Kumar, M.D., a neurologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Garland, recommends a low-fat, low-salt, low-sugar diet heavy in fruits and vegetables to help reduce stroke risk. “I tell my patients they need to

eat all the colors of the rainbow every day,” he says. And he warns to watch for salt in fast food and processed food, where it’s used as a preservative and doesn’t necessarily taste salty.

In people of any age, symptoms are the same. (See “FAST Action.”) If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone else, get help right away. With the most common type of stroke, clot-busting drugs can help prevent brain damage and long-term eff ects, but they need to be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms.

“These drugs can dissolve the blood clot and get you back to a more normal function,” Dr. Graybeal says. “But of the 795,000 strokes in the United States per year, less than 5 percent get help in time.” Knowing the warning signs can improve this percentage—and improve outcomes. �

WHAT’S YOUR RISK?

Stroke Smarts

Quiz yourself on stroke risk factors, get stroke prevention tips and hear a mind-strengthening podcast, all at BaylorHealth.com/HealthCast.

FAST Action The acronym FAST can help you recognize stroke symptoms in yourself or someone else:Face: Look for drooping on one side of the face, particularly when smiling.Arms: When raising both arms, does one drop downward?Speech: Do words sound slurred or unusual?Time: Call 911 if you spot any of these signs. And note the time you fi rst noticed

symptoms so medical staff can track how much time has elapsed.(Source: National Stroke Association)

Stroke Knows No Age

Six years ago Dane Taylor of Dallas was working as a makeup artist on a photo shoot in Cancun, Mexico, when a debilitating headache struck.

“I had a history of migraines, and this headache went into a second day. By noon I couldn’t keep working—I had to go back to my room,” she says.

She woke, and noticed trouble moving her right arm and leg, but thought she had slept on them wrong and went back to sleep. The next morning, she tried to return to work but was exhausted. She spoke to her co-workers, but they couldn’t understand her jumbled words. They took her to a local hospital and the next day she traveled to Baylor University Medical Center

at Dallas, where MRIs determined the then-50-year-old had experienced a stroke. While she didn’t have a family history or other known risk factors,

A ‘brain attack’ can strike anyone. Here’s how to strike back

WATCH THE VIDEO

In Dane’s WordsTo hear more about how Dane Taylor fought back from her stroke, watch her video at BaylorHealth.com/MyStory.

Recovering from her stroke was made a bit easier for Dane Taylor with help from her therapy dog, Bebe.

Steer Clear of StrokeWhile you can’t reduce your chance of stroke to zero, you can lower your risk by taking the right steps. Nicole Simpkins, M.D., a neurologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, recom-mends these precautions:

� Watch your num-bers. Make sure your blood pres-sure, cholesterol levels and diabetes are under control. If lifestyle changes alone don’t bring your numbers into the normal ranges, you may need medication.

� Consider aspirin. Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin daily if you’re over 55.

� Eat smart. Choose lots of vegetables and fruits, and limit foods high in cho-lesterol, saturated fats and trans fats.

� Exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes most days.

� Don’t smoke. This advice is particularly important if you take birth control pills.

� Know your risk. Be aware of the risk factors you can’t control. Stroke risk increases as you get older, and men aremore likely than women to have strokes. If you have a family member who had a stroke, or if you have had a stroke, heartattack or transient ischemic attack (TIA), your risk is higher. Also, African-Americans are nearly twice as likelyto experience a stroke than Caucasians.� By Stephanie Thurrott

LEARN MORE

Why Take Chances?To discuss your risk factors with a pri-mary care physician or a neurologist, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

Learn more at BaylorHealth.com/Stroke � July 2011 BaylorHealth 7

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Baylor Health Care System 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 750 Marketing Department Dallas, TX 75201

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PAIDBAYLOR HEALTH

1405 West Jefferson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165

Baylor Waxahachie nationally recognized for excellence in patient care.

Thanks to the quality care we provide to our patients, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie has

been named one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States by Thomson Reuters, a leading

source of intelligent information for businesses. The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®

study evaluates the performance of almost 3,000 hospitals in 10 areas, including mortality,

complications, patient safety, patient satisfaction and dedication to following quality standards

of care. We are proud of this award, and very grateful for the opportunity to provide excellent

health care to the Ellis County community.

For a physician referral or for more information, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit us online at BaylorHealth.com/Waxahachie.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affi liated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie or Baylor Health Care System © 2011 Baylor Health Care System BMCWAX_231 BHM CE 5.11

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